Gas disputes between Russian energy company Gazprom and Ukraine, most recently in 2009, caused problems for European consumers when supplies were disrupted briefly. Most of the Russian gas headed for Europe runs through a Soviet-era gas transit system in Ukraine.

European leaders aim to break Russia's grip on the regional energy sector by securing natural gas from Caspian suppliers like Azerbaijan. Russian, meanwhile, is advancing its own series of pipelines in order to avoid geopolitically sensitive territory in Ukraine.

A BP-led consortium managing the Shah Deniz II natural gas field in Azeri waters is expected by next year to make a final decision between the Nabucco West pipeline and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline as the conduit for Azeri natural gas.

Reinhard Mitscheck, managing director of the Nabucco pipeline group, told Bloomberg News the cost of the scaled-down Nabucco West would be cheaper than the $10 billion slated for the original route. Price concerns and gas supply assurances had sparked concern from some interested parties.

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today’s UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.

A Spanish version of the site reaches millions of readers in Latin America and beyond.

UPI was founded in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as the United Press (UP). It became known as UPI when after a merger with the International News Service in 1958, which was founded in 1909 by William Randolph Hearst. Today, UPI is owned by News World Communications.